Osteospermum plant named &#39;kleoe10178&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE10178’ particularly distinguished by soft pink flowers with creamy white eyes, and a medium compact, slim and upright growth habit, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE10178’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl., andhereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE10178’. The newvariety originated from an open pollination made in August 2007 inStuttgart, Germany. Neither the female parent nor the male parent isknown. A single plant selection was subsequently chosen for furtherevaluation and for asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in May 2008in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly byvegetative cuttings over three to four generations. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Canada onMar. 19, 2010. ‘KLEOE10178’ has not been made publicly available or soldmore than one year prior to the filing date of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Soft pink flowers with creamy white eyes; and

2. Medium compact, slim and upright growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows a close-up of a flower of the plant. The colorsshown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventionalphotographic procedures. The photograph was taken in Summer 2010 of a7-month old plant in the field in Stuttgart, Germany, under conditionswhich approximate those generally used in normal horticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE10178’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Summer of 2010 on7-month old plants which were potted at 4 weeks in 12 centimetercontainers and then planted in the ground in May 2010. The plants werepinched once at 6 weeks. Color readings were taken under natural light.Color references are primarily to the RHS Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial but usually cultivated            as an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Upright.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil, including inflorescence).—30.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—24.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 14            weeks from sticking.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Approximately 3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Dentiform.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface:            RHS 146B Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N137A Lower            surface: RHS N147B.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—3.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Petioles.—Absent.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches at base of plant.—6.        -   Length.—26.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—1.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 143C.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—0.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.2 cm.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to Fall.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—Approximately 20.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the            plant.—Approximately 14 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 6.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.5 cm.-   Disc floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 50.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 12D at base and RHS 11D at top            Mature: RHS 8D        -   Length.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Apex color.—RHS N87A.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray floret:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 22.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 75A on top and RHS NN155D on            bottom Lower surface: RHS 162C on top and RHS 158B on            bottom.        -   Length.—Approximately 4.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 cm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: Approximately 7.0 cm Diameter:            Approximately 0.2 cm Texture: Rough Color: RHS 138A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per plant.—Approximately 20.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 138A Lower surface: RHS 139C        -   Length.—Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.15 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Located at the base of the disc floret            corolla Stamens: Quantity: Approximately 50 Shape:            Filamentous Color: RHS N81D Filament length: Approximately            0.45 cm Filament diameter: Approximately 0.012 cm Anther:            Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS N79A Length: 0.25 cm Diameter:            0.05 cm Pollen: Color: RHS 25A Amount: Abundant.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Located at the base of the petals (ray            floret); pistils in disc flower are degenerated and not            functional Pistils: Number: Approximately 22 Length: 0.6 cm            Diameter: 0.12 cm Stigma: Color: RHS N155B in the center and            RHS N79A at the edge Shape: Bipartite Length: Approximately            0.2 cm Diameter: Approximately 0.05 cm Style: Color: RHS            N155B Length: Approximately 3.0 cm Diameter: Approximately            0.02 cm Shape: Elliptic-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed.

COMPARISON WITH COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘KLEOE10178’ differs from the commercial cultivar ‘FlowerPower LightPink’ (unpatented) in that ‘KLEOE10178’ has medium-sized, soft pinkflowers with creamy white eyes, while ‘FlowerPower Light Pink’ haslarge-sized, dark pink flowers with light pink eyes. In addition,‘KLEOE10178’ has a medium compact, slim and upright growth habit, while‘FlowerPower Light Pink’ has a very compact, round growth habit.

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE10178’as shown and described herein.